I completely agree with your comment. There are a variety of factors that figure into a person’s learning, but I feel that one of the most important, if not the most important, is simply showing up when you’re supposed to (with my second most important being doing what you are told/assigned). I find it pathetic that there are not standardized rules set up for consequences when a student misses too much school. The present system (things like SARB) doesn’t really do much until the student has missed way too much school, and even then I feel there is more emphasis on “making up” things instead of having to do them again from the beginning. If there is no real validity to a HS diploma, no one should be surprised that test scores carry the weight they do.

]]>By: Giorgio C.http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47521
Sun, 28 Jul 2013 03:47:41 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47521@39,
What I found difficult to accept as a teacher was the fact that I couldn’t flunk a student as a result of poor attendance. I had parents pulling their kids out of school for sometimes up to one month duration. I was told to give them make-up work. A science class. They should have had to repeat the classes they missed. If all I had to do was give them make-up work, then why do they need teachers? Again, this goes back to the question regarding the validity of a HS diploma.
]]>By: anonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47520
Sun, 28 Jul 2013 02:45:10 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47520@38, I agree that may be the case in some situations, but there are many other situations where it is not true. I have seen students who missed a semester more and need additional time to complete their graduation requirements because a family member has cancer, they have to work due to the financial situation of the family, or they had drug/alcohol problems or family problems not the fault of the school situation. I do not deny that the school system fails some children; but conversely, the school system cannot always be blamed for circumstances related to the child or the child’s home life that are outside the system’s control. IMO, this is a primary purpose of Adult School, to assist students these students when life/home circumstances prevent them from obtaining a regular diploma on schedule.
]]>By: Mike Langleyhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47516
Sun, 28 Jul 2013 00:27:38 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47516@ 38 “They are in the Adult School program because we failed them, not because they failed themselves.” Nice slogan but oversimplifcation. Students are in Adult Ed for many reasons. Some are there because an educations system failed, but that is too easy to proclaim that is why all are there. Our focus on blaming the current k-12 education in the state while excluding all other factors will never address the range of causes. Thus, failures will continue and “snake oil” solutions will continue to be sold.
]]>By: Giorgio C.http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47511
Sat, 27 Jul 2013 14:52:31 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47511I am getting conflicting messages with respect to the intent-mission of adult schools when I read the course offering for the West Contra Costa Adult School program found here.http://www.wccae.info/

Many of these classes are more appropriate for the Community College. What I find troubling is the possibility that some students are possibly forced to take this avenue of remedial action as a result of failures of their k-12 system, that the resources should instead be redirected to the k-12 program. They are in the Adult School program because we failed them, not because they failed themselves.

]]>By: anonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47509
Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:24:00 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47509@29, correction, that is 200 credits now, down from the prior 230 (and much lower than the 240 credits required by many other California school districts.)

Bottom line: students do not graduate with a regular diploma, needed to attend a CSU, unless they obtain the 200 credits. There are many students, for a myriad of reasons, won’t earn the 200 credits while in high school and will need adult school in order to get a regular diploma. For those who aren’t ever going to even get a regular diploma, they an at least get a GED and attend a community college.

]]>By: anonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47508
Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:02:22 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47508@29, Theresa, my explanation is that a student only graduates with a regular diploma if he/she obtains the credits required by that district AND passes the CAHSEE. That allows the student to at least be eligible to apply to a state school; UC has higher requirements. So, students who did not obtain the 210 credits (or higher in other districts) to graduate with a regular diploma may continue on in adult school to obtain those credits, which makes sense when they want to continue on a college course. Students who only want a GED will be eligible to attend a community college but are not eligible to attend a CSU (unless they successfully complete two years at a CC0. Much of it depends on the student’s future plans and goals, and what they hope to achieve. And, special ed students who do none of the above may remain in school until they age out at 22 years.
]]>By: Theresa Harringtonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47502
Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:04:47 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47502Wow, thanks for this information. I’ll ask to get on this list. I wonder why he isn’t sending this to the entire community.
]]>By: Doctor Jhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47491
Thu, 25 Jul 2013 23:05:24 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47491@TH#33 On the last day of each month [May, June], he has sent a newsletter to all employees updating them on what is happening in the district. I am surprised he didn’t send you a copy.
]]>By: Theresa Harringtonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2013/07/19/story-about-foster-youth-in-schools-prompts-fond-memories-from-students-former-teacher/comment-page-1/#comment-47486
Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:53:42 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/?p=11809#comment-47486Thanks, Georgio.
Here’s the WCCUSD superintendent’s July community update letting people know about progress on the strategic plan: http://www.wccusd.net/cms/lib03/CA01001466/Centricity/domain/77/messages/2013-2014/Update%20on%20Strategic%20Planning%207-2013.pdf
It’s unclear whether MDUSD’s Interim Superintendent will send out any similar messages to the community about district news before school starts.
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